10 Best LED DLP Projectors
for October 2023

The Android Smart Projector V5300 has better video quality than our previous pick, the V3800, which the resolution is 1280 x 800 (WVGA), and it supports 4K (at HDMI mode only). The V5300 also has a bigger projection size and brighter projection brightness, a 3800-lumen brightness (compared to 2800 lumens for the V3800), and a 1.19:1 aspect ratio (compared to 1.4:1 for the V3800). The V5300 also comes in smaller and thinner design, and it's easier and cheaper to set up than projectors with laser and LED bulb. However, the V5300's image quality doesn't compare to projectors with laser and LED bulb, and it's a little dimmer than the V3800. The V5300 also doesn't support 3D function, and the V5300's 60Hz refresh rate is much lower than the 120Hz refresh rate of projectors with laser and LED bulb, so it doesn't provide the same smooth motion. The V5300 also has several limitations, such as no optical zoom and 120fps refresh rate for videos, and it only supports Google's Android operating system.

The Optoma ML750 WXGA 700 Lumen 3D Ready Portable DLP LED Projector with MHL Enabled HDMI Port is the least expensive projector we tested, but it is also the least expensive projector that we tested that offered 1080p resolution. The ML750's image quality is good enough for the average home user, but the projector is best suited for small to mid-sized rooms, such as living rooms and bedrooms. The projector's native resolution is WXGA (1280 x 800), which is slightly lower than the 1080p resolution offered by our other top picks, but it offered slightly sharper images than the SXGA resolution offered by the Optoma HD27. The projector also comes with a built-in speaker and built in 3D support, though we found that the projector's built-in speakers were relatively weak. The projector did come with an HDMI cable and an MHL adapter, but users will have to purchase their own MHL-compatible HDMI cable to connect the device to their MHL-enabled TV or smartphone. We also found that the projector's input lag was relatively high, at 19.7 milliseconds, but lag was only an issue when projecting videos from external sources. The projector also comes with a one-year warranty.

The M7 is a tiny little projector that packs a big punch. Its 1200 lumens of brightness are bright enough to fill a 100-inch screen, and its 4K resolution is high enough to give you a crisp image on virtually any size screen. It's no powerhouse, though: The projector's 15,000mAh battery isn't quite as powerful or long-lasting as some of the others we tested, and the M7's maximum projection size (200 inches) is fairly limited. But for an all-purpose portable projector, the M7 has few peers. It's lightweight, portable, and relatively easy to set up, and it's small enough to fit in a backpack or purse. Our only major complaint was with battery life: The projector's 3-hour runtime falls a little short of the competition, and the projector's power bank feature only works with USB flash drives, not with SD cards, which is a big drawback if you plan on using the M7 as a portable gaming machine. The M7's native resolution and refresh rate are relatively low, and while the projector is 4K 30FPS ready, it can only display 30 fps. But overall, the M7 is a terrific portable projector.

The Luma 150 projector is a pocket-sized marvel, and it's surprisingly bright, too. Because of its LED lamp, luminance is about 15 percent brighter than most pocket projectors, and it provides crisp, vivid images with a sharp, 16:9 aspect ratio. The Luma 150 supports 1080p video, and its contrast ratio of 1000:1 and 854 x 480 resolution provide clear, sharp images. However, the projector has a slight color shift, and the image isn't as sharp as it is with a traditional laser projector. It also lacks a zoom function, so images a bit larger or smaller than 100 inches can be difficult to see. The projector has a built-in rechargeable battery, and it comes with an AC adapter. The projector also has an HDMI and Micro USB connection, so you can connect it to a computer, laptop, or external USB drive for media playback. It has an Ethernet port that allows it to stream media from an Ethernet-enabled device, but this feature isn't currently working properly. You can also stream media wirelessly from mobile devices using the Airplay or Miracast features. You can also connect up to three mobile devices using wireless mirroring. We used a wired connection for this review. The projector also has a headphone jack, which is useful for giving presentations or watching movies in a small room. Bluetooth connections are available for streaming audio from a mobile device, and the projector has a 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting an external speaker. You can also project a slideshow of photos or videos from your phone, tablet, or laptop. The projector has a 1.3x optical zoom, but the image can't be adjusted manually. You can turn the projector on using the built-in button, or you can use the included remote control. The projector has an auto-off function, and it uses less power when it's turned off. You can use the included remote or the built-in buttons to projector buttons to switch between videos, images, and presentations. The projector has a 1.3-inch, 320 x 240 pixel touchscreen display, and the interface is easy to use. It also has a built-in speaker, so you don't need a separate Bluetooth speaker. The projector weighs about a pound, and it's 3.7 x 1.7 x (HWD) inches. The projector has a one-year warranty.

If you've been looking for a small projector that can survive the elements, the ViewSonic M1 Mini LED Projector with JBL Speaker, HDMI, USB, Stream Netflix with Dongle (M1MINI) is a good option. The projector is compact, light, and portable, and it can play movies, videos, photos, and presentations from USB drives and computers (it supports HDMI for streaming from mobile devices). The M1 Mini's 120 lumens provides decent enough picture quality for most entertainment needs, and its 854x480p resolution is high enough for watching videos, browsing the Web, and viewing photos. What's more, the M1 Mini's built-in rechargeable battery (which provides up to 1.5 hours of power) and USB power bank compatibility (which offers up to 24 hours of power) make it easy to enjoy movies, presentations, and shows anywhere. The projector's built-in speaker, which can be muted, is also pretty good, and you can also connect external speakers if you like. The M1 Mini's smart stand, which doubles as a lens cover, makes it easy to place the projector in a variety of positions. The projector's HDMI output supports up to 1080p, and it uses HDMI 1.4 for HD audio, which makes it compatible with virtually all media players, computers, and mobile devices. The projector also comes with swappable panels (Gray, Teal, and Yellow) so you can change the look of the projector to suit your decor. The projector's keystone correction feature automatically corrects for image distortion, and ViewSonic's 1-year warranty provides added peace of mind.

The AAXA BP1 is one of the best projectors we retested this past month. It delivers sharp, colorful images, and it's compatible with a wide range of devices. Battery life is very good, and you don't need a USB-C adapter to use it. The projector is also relatively small and light, making it easy to transport, and the included tripod makes the BP1 an ideal travel companion. The projector's Wi-Fi connection is fast and reliable, and it supports AirPlay 2, so you can use iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices to project content wirelessly. The projector's audio performance is also excellent: it's not as loud and bass-heavy as some projectors, but it's plenty loud for watching movies and TV shows in a small room. The AAXA BP1 is a great choice for watching movies and playing games on a laptop or smartphone, but it's a little too small for gaming on a larger screen.

The Optoma LV130 Mini Projector is an excellent travel companion, and it's so small and light that you won't even know it's there until you need it. It's also easy to connect to a laptop or other HDMI-enabled device, and it offers upsize and downsize capability for watching movies and playing games. The projector's image quality is on par with our other top picks, with bright, vivid colors and sharp HD images. Its high contrast ratio and 4,500-lumen brightness also make it the best projector we've seen, period, for watching HD movies outdoors. The projector's 6,700-mAh battery provides up to 4.5 hours of use, and it supports up to 100 lumens of brightness, which is more than enough for bright rooms. The projector offers WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth, so you can use your smartphone as a second screen. The projector also supports MHL connectivity, which means you can stream content from a mobile device via the projector's 3.5mm audio jack. The only major drawback to the LV130 Mini Projector is its tendency to overheat, which is an issue we've experienced with all projectors that use a LED lightsource. Overall, the Optoma LV130 Mini Projector is the best projector we've tested, and the best portable projector we've tested.

The Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector is tiny and lightweight, so it's perfect for traveling or hanging out at home. The image quality is excellent, and it's capable of displaying 16.7 million colors. It has a small, 3,400-lumen LED bulb, which can produce bright, vivid images in most room settings. The Ultra Mini is small enough to fit comfortably in your hand, and it's powered by an included rechargeable battery. The projector creates 1080p resolution images, but it's best suited for watching video or playing games. The projector's DLP technology also produces vibrant, detailed images, and it produces almost no glare, even in brightly lit rooms. The Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector has a HDMI port, a USB port, a VGA port, and a stereo headphone jack. It can connect wirelessly to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop using the projector's Bluetooth feature. The projector also has a 3.5mm input for connecting a gaming console or DVD player, and a 3.5mm to RCA cable is included for connecting to a stereo or surround sound system. The projector comes with a soft case and an HDMI cable.

The Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector is a surprisingly good choice for a projector of this size. Its 100-inch display is big enough to watch sports and movies without stretching the image, but it takes up relatively little space. The picture quality is sharp, with a wide color range. It's bright enough for most rooms, although it still isn't bright enough to be used in complete darkness. The projector also has excellent viewing angles, and it's small enough to tuck away in a purse, briefcase, or backpack. The built-in speaker is loud enough for a videoconference, and it supports HDMI input, which enables you to connect it to other devices, including game consoles and streaming video players. The projector also has USB ports and a micro SD card slot, so you can use it to display photos or videos from your computer. The controls are easy to use, and there's no complicated menu system. The only drawback is that the projector doesn't have a remote control, so you'll need to use the projector's buttons to control it. Overall, the Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector is a portable projector worth considering.

The Magnasonic LED Pocket Pico Projector was easy to install and use, and it didn't take up much space on my desk. It quickly connected via HDMI to my Samsung Galaxy 7, and I could then project videos, photos, and websites from my phone, laptop, or media player at 60 inches. The projector's 25 lumen color- and high-brightness DLP light engine provided a bright image, and its 640 x 360 resolution was clear and crisp. The built-in speaker was loud enough for movie nights, and I liked that I could connect external speakers or headphones via the 3.5mm headphone jack. The projector passed our test for durability, and it's compact and light enough to easily fit in a pocket or backpack. The projector comes with HDMI, MHL, and Micro HDMI cables, as well as a Samsung Galaxy adapter, so it's compatible with tablets, smartphones, laptops, and media players. The Magnasonic is compact enough to take with you to a movie or game, and it's small enough to carry in your pocket or backpack. Its 60-inch image makes it perfect for home use as well.